Barbeque fuel tank system

ABSTRACT

A barbeque grill assembly comprises a grill, a frame supporting the grill, a heating element, and a fuel storage tank. A shell receives the fuel storage tank and may have a weight scale to read the fullness of the tank. The shell also offers features such as light and barbeque grill mounts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a portable shell for transporting a propane tank of a barbeque grill.

[0002] A barbeque grill may have a gas propane tank that supplies fuel for cooking food on the grill. Typically, the propane tank has a cylindrical shape with a protruding top and bottom rim. In particular, the bottom rim that supports the weight of the propane tank has narrower diameter than the general diameter of the tank itself. This shape may cause the propane tank to tip over and roll under certain circumstances.

[0003] During the transportation of the tank, the propensity of the tank to roll over is highly undesirable. Propane gas is highly explosive. In an accident or under severe braking of a vehicle, the tank may puncture. In addition, a moving hard and heavy tank may otherwise cause injury to individuals in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0004] Current devices used to transport gas tanks do exist. However, these devices are not designed or suited for a barbeque grill or its propane tank. Moreover, these devices are merely used for transporting tanks in a vehicle such as a truck. They also offer no way for an individual to determine whether the propane tank requires refilling.

[0005] The need therefore exists for a propane tank device that permits safe and convenient transportation of the tank and offers other benefits to a barbeque griller that would encourage its use with a barbeque grill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Like barbeque grills that currently exist, the invention comprises a grill supported by a frame. A heating element, such as a burner, is located beneath the grill and provides heat for cooking food on the grill. A fuel tank supplies propane gas to the burner. However, unlike existing designs, the propane tank has a carrying shell that permits the convenient and safe transportation of the fuel tank to and from the filling station. The carrying shell also has other features that justify its use beyond transport. A weight scale may be part of the shell and indicate the fullness of the tank.

[0007] The shell may also have an opening for a fuel hose of the propane tank, permitting use of the shell with the grill. Supports on the shell may provide a mount for barbeque accessories, such as a barbeque light, a spatula, a fork and other grilling tools. In this way, the shell provides additional functionality that would encourage its use beyond merely transporting the fuel tank to the refilling station.

[0008] The shell may have a bottom base as large as the fuel tank and larger than the bottom rim, thereby stabilizing the tank from tipping over. It is also desirable that the shell have a height less than the height of the grill to allow the shell and tank to fit underneath the barbeque grill. Handles may also be provided so as to allow the easy transportation of the tank.

[0009] The shell may have a slot to receive a safety belt and secure the tank to a vehicle using a standard available passenger restraint system. The shell may have a drainage hole to allow water to drain out of the shell. The shell may be cylindrical or box like in shape and have wheels mounted in the interior to allow the sliding of the fuel tank into the shell. Finally, a top cover may be provided for the shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates as embodiment of the invention including barbeque grill, frame, fuel tank, weight scale and shell.

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates the shell of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the shell of FIG. 2.

[0014]FIG. 3A shows a standard propane tank that may be used with the shell.

[0015]FIG. 4 illustrates side panels for the shell of FIGS. 2 and 3 that mount barbeque accessories.

[0016]FIG. 5 illustrates the side panels of FIG. 4 assembled together.

[0017]FIG. 6 illustrates feet that may be employed on the base of the shell of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0018]FIG. 7 illustrates the shell secured by a passenger safety restraint system.

[0019]FIG. 7A illustrates a slot for a safety belt on the shell.

[0020]FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, highlighting a stackable shape for the shell.

[0021]FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, a box shaped shell with a weight scale.

[0022]FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment with a different type of weight scale visible on the shelf and a fuel tank received within the shell.

[0023]FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom base of the shell including feet which may assist the stacking of the box shaped shells onto each other.

[0024]FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative stacking shape for the box shell.

[0025]FIG. 13 illustrates how the box shaped shell may be self-assembled.

[0026]FIG. 14 illustrates the self-assembled shell of FIG. 13.

[0027]FIG. 15 illustrates the location of wheels which may slideably receive the fuel tank as well as a weight scale.

[0028]FIG. 16 illustrates a top cover for the box shaped shell.

[0029]FIG. 17 shows a side profile of the top cover of FIG. 16.

[0030]FIG. 18 shows a carrying cart for the box shaped shell.

[0031]FIG. 19 illustrates an accessories panel which may be employed with the box shaped shell with a barbeque light.

[0032]FIG. 20 illustrates another accessory panel that may be employed with the box shaped shell.

[0033]FIG. 21 illustrates an accessory panel with a fire extinguisher mount.

[0034]FIG. 22 illustrates a weight scale to be employed with the box shaped shell including a dial and springs.

[0035]FIG. 23 illustrates the reverse side of the dial of FIG. 22.

[0036]FIG. 24 illustrates an alternative dial for the weight scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Shown are barbeque grill 27 supported by frame 38, which also supports fuel storage tank 42. Heating element 25, such as a gas burner, provide heat to grill 27, as known. In contrast to existing barbeque grill assemblies, barbeque grill assembly 30 also has shell 46 for fuel storage tank 42. Here, shell 46 may be made of heat resistant plastic which may be wood or stone textured, and have vents 54 to permit fuel storage tank 42 to remain cool. Also, FIG. 1 illustrates weight scale 50, which may provide a visible indicator of the fullness of the fuel storage tank 42 received within shell 46. As can be seen from this figure, fuel storage tank 42 is at least partially received in shell 46. As will be illustrated in other figures, the invention offers numerous safety features and conveniences.

[0038]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate shell 46 in greater detail. In FIG. 2, the attachment of shell to frame 38 is shown. Standard barbeque grills have a fuel storage tank mount 66 with wing nut 68 as well as shelf 62. Shell 46 is supported by shelf 62 and fuel storage mount 66. Wire lines 72 may hook into connectors 76, which themselves are attached to shell 46 as known. Wire lines then tie to hook 78, which is secured onto support 66 by wing nut 68. As shown, weight scale 50 is visible on the outside of shell to give an indication of the fullness of fuel storage tank 42.

[0039]FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the shell of FIG. 2. Shell 46 comprises two types of side panels. Handle side panel 51 has opening 114 to serve as part of a handle for shell 46. Vent side panel 52 has opening 110 to permit a hose to pass from fuel storage tank 42 to heating element 25 of grill 27. Handle side panel 51 and vent side panel 52 assemble onto base 86 by tabs 106 that fit into slots 94. Also shown, handle panel 51 may connect to vent panel 52 through tabs 118 and slots 112 to receive tabs 118. As known in the art, tabs 106 may snap fit into slots 94 or alternatively twist fit into slots 94.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3A, fuel storage tank 42 has protruding top rim 126 and protruding bottom rim 130. Bottom protruding rim 130 generally has an outside diameter G much smaller than the diameter of fuel storage tank 42 at its widest point, shown as diameter H. Thus, when fuel storage tank 42 is transported on bottom protruding rim 130, fuel storage tank 42 is unstable and likely to tip over. The cylindrical shape of fuel storage tank 42 also contributes to the likelihood that fuel storage tank 42 will roll in transit. Also, to accommodate fuel storage tank 42, base 86 maybe is sized as large as the largest outside diameter of fuel storage tank 42. This base thus ensures that fuel storage tank 42 will have its weight distributed across base 86 rather than only at the bottom rim of fuel storage tank 42.

[0041] Base 86 comprises plate 82 supported on springs 102, which are calibrated with weight scale 50 to provide an accurate measurement of the fullness of fuel storage tank 42 resting on plate 82. Base 86 also has drainage hole 98 for draining water captured by shell 46. Weight scale 50 is in contact with plate 82 through lever 90 such that pressure from plate 82 on lever 90 causes dial of weight scale 50 to move radially. For example, when a full fuel storage tank 42 is placed on plate 82, plate 82 depresses springs 102 to a calibrated point such that weight scale 50 indicates a full tank. As fuel is used from fuel storage tank 42, plate 82 rises on compressed springs 102 to almost full release and allows lever space 90 also to rise and thereby indicate on weight scale 50 the emptying of fuel storage tank.

[0042] In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, accessory side panels are shown. FIG. 4 illustrates accessory panel 126 for handle side panel 51. As shown, tabs 138 are on both sides of accessory side panel 126 such that they may snap fit onto handle side panel 51. Tabs 138 may compress sides of handle side panel 51 or connect by other known techniques. Accessory panel 130 is also shown and may fit onto vent side panel 52 in the same fashion. Both accessory panels 126 and 130 may be shaped to about the same shape with handle and vent openings to conform to shapes of handle side panel 51 and vent side panel 52, respectively. FIG. 5 illustrates accessory side panels assembled together.

[0043]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative base which may be used with a shell of the invention. Base 142 comprises drainage hole 146 as well as feet 150. Feet 150 may also have hinges 154, which allow the extension of feet 150 from base 142 to beyond the diameter of base 142 as shown. Feet 150 may thus increase the stability of base 142 during transportation by widening the support upon which fuel storage tank 42 rests. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, protruding rim 158 serves to mate with bottom protruding rim 130 of fuel storage tank 42 as shown in FIG. 3A, thus securing fuel storage tank 42 on base 142. So, protruding rim 158 has a diameter just less than diameter of bottom protruding rim 130.

[0044] To improve the safety of transporting fuel storage tank 42, shell 46 may be connected to a passenger restraint system of a vehicle on seats 160 of a motor vehicle. Lower safety belt 162 straps around the lower portion of shell 46 while upper safety belt 166 straps to the upper portion of shell 46 as shown. Shell 46 may be secured by both upper and lower safety belt 166 and 162 respectively. Without shell 46, upper safety belt 166 tends not to fit securely on fuel storage tank 42 because of its small size and round shape. As shown in FIG. 7A, shell 46 may have slot 170 to receive upper safety belt 166. This slot serves to secure upper safety belt 166 to shell 46 and prevent shell 46 from flipping out or disengaging upper safety belt 166.

[0045]FIG. 8 illustrates a tapered design for a fuel storage tank shell. This particular design allows the stacking of one shell onto another for the inventory storage of the shells. Here, shell 168 receives shell 172. Both shells have a bottom 176 and 180 that have a smaller diameter than their tops 184 and 188.

[0046]FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a fuel storage tank shell. Here, shell 174 is box shaped. As before, shell 174 has handles 178 and openings 182 for the hose of a fuel storage tank. Also, weight scale 186 is incorporated into shell 174. Weight scale 186 has a radial dial as shown.

[0047]FIG. 10 illustrates shell 190 having vents 194. Here, a linear weight scale 198 is shown. Also fuel storage tank 42 is shown disposed within shell 190 with fuel hose 202 passing through opening 206 of shell 190.

[0048]FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom of outer shell 190 of FIG. 10 or shell 174 of FIG. 9. Bottom 202 has an outside dimension 204. Just within this dimension are feet 206, such as anti-skid rubber feet, spaced on each corner of bottom of 202. Feet 206 are spaced sufficiently from outside dimension 204 so as to permit the stacking of shell 202 onto another shell of the same dimension. Feet 206 thus secure shell 202 onto the top of the box of another similarly shaped shell. This design permits stacking of the boxes in inventory. Also provided are slots 210 to receive accessory panels as will be shown. Finally, drainage hole 214 permits water to drain from bottom 202.

[0049]FIG. 12 illustrates shell 218 having a tapered design. As explained with respect to the cylinder shaped design, the taper permits shell 218 to stack on another shell of similar shape. This stacking then allows for the convenient transportation of large quantities of shells.

[0050]FIG. 13 illustrates a self-assembled shell 222. Self-assembled shelf 222 has four posts 224, such as steel rods, that fit within loops 228 of the side panels of shell 222. For example, side panel 232 has loops 228 which are alternately spaced between loops 238 of side panel 234. Thus, loops 228 and loops 238 are alignable such that posts 224 may slide through all of the loops to lock side panels 232 and 234 together. FIG. 14 illustrates an interior view of shell 222 of FIG. 13. Bottom 242 of shell 222 fits within the space of post 224 on ledges 246, an L-shaped area is formed, of shell 222. Bottom 242 may be attached to ledges 246 as known.

[0051]FIG. 15 illustrates wheels 250 mounted on center of walls of shell 222. The size and location of wheels 250 are located and spaced apart such that fuel storage tank 42 may be slideably received in shell 222. Fuel storage tank 42 also sits atop bottom 254 resting on springs 258. Bottom 254 and spring 258 serve as a weight scale for fuel storage tank 42 as explained.

[0052]FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a top cover that may be employed with shell 222. Top cover 262 has opening 266 sized to receive top protruding rim 126 of fuel storage tank 42. (See FIG. 3A). Also, top cover 262 has knobs 270 to assist the lifting and placement of top cover in shell 222. Top cover 262 fits closely in the opening of shell 222 such that it assists in the retention of fuel storage tank 42 in shell 222 and limits vibration of tank.

[0053] In addition to the foregoing features of the invention, the invention also permits the attachment of accessories to the shell. As illustrated in FIGS. 18 through 21, a side panel may be attached to the shell of FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13 to promote the utility of the shell. FIG. 18 illustrates a side panel having wheels to cart the shell. Side panel 272 has wheels 274 and handle 275. Handle 275 may attach to rods 282 which may telescopically retract into rods 283 of side panel 272 along axis A. To connect side panel 272 to a shell, bar 288 has overlaps 292 that fit into the top edge of the shell as shown. Also, securing side panel 272 to the bottom of shell 271 is overlap 278 which fits into slot of shell 271 as shown in FIG. 11 as slot 210.

[0054]FIG. 19 shows the same connection arrangement of FIG. 18 but with a different accessory attachment. Here, light 298 is supported by arm 302 which fits within post 296 and is attached to side panel 272. Thus, side panel 272 permits the use of the shell as a light accessory to the barbeque grill. FIG. 20 illustrates a cup and barbeque grill tool holder. Cup holders 306 are disposed within table 308, which itself is part of side panel 272. In addition, table 308 has hooks 310 to serve as mounts for barbeque grill accessories such as a spatula or fork. FIG. 21 illustrates a fire extinguisher accessory mount. Strap 314 secures top of a fire extinguisher while base 318 is sized to fit the cylindrical shape of the fire extinguisher.

[0055]FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 illustrate the weight scale of the shell. Weight scale 320 has base 326 sitting upon springs 322. Attached to base 326 is post 328 which itself is connected to radial scale 330. Radial scale 330 has markings to indicate the fullness and emptiness of a fuel storage tank sitting upon base 326. Springs 322 are calibrated such that compression by a full storage tank registers a full on radial dial 330 while an empty fuel storage tank registers an empty indication on radial dial 330. Thus, as base 326 moves along the C axis, radial dial 330 indicates the fullness to emptiness of a fuel storage tank.

[0056]FIG. 23 shows the back of the radial dial 330 of FIG. 22. As shown, post 328 attaches to radial dial 330 such that movement of post 328 along the C axis causes radial dial to rotate along the B arrow.

[0057]FIG. 24 illustrates another weight dial using the same post and base of FIGS. 22 and 23. However, rather than a radial dial, a linear scale is employed. The weight scale is calibrated in the same manner as the radial dial of FIGS. 22 and 23. Linear dial 334 thus provides another indicator of the fullness or emptiness of a fuel storage tank.

[0058] The aforementioned description is exemplary rather that limiting. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. Hence, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For this reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A barbeque grill assembly comprising: a grill supported by a frame; a heating element in communication with said grill; a fuel storage tank communicating fuel to said heating element; and a shell at least partially receiving said fuel storage tank and spaced from said grill.
 2. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell has at least one opening to permit the communication of fuel from said fuel storage tank to said heating element.
 3. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell has at least one handle.
 4. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 1 including a weight scale in communication with said fuel storage tank so as to provide an indication of the fullness of said fuel storage tank.
 5. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 4 wherein said weight scale has an indicator describing the fullness of said fuel storage tank located on said shell.
 6. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell has an inner shell dimension and an outer shell dimension and said fuel storage tank has an outer tank dimension wherein said inner shell dimension is at least as large as said outer tank dimension.
 7. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 6 wherein said shell comprises a base having a base dimension at least as large as said outer tank dimension.
 8. The barbeque grill assembly of claim 1 wherein said grill has a predetermined height and said shell is less than said predetermined height to permit said shell to fit under said grill.
 9. The barbeque assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell has at least one support for mounting a barbeque accessory.
 10. A fuel storage tank assembly comprising: a fuel storage tank; a shell at least partially receiving said fuel storage tank; and a weight scale measuring the weight of said fuel storage tank within said shell.
 11. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said weight scale has an indicator on said shell.
 12. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell has at least one slot to receive a safety belt.
 13. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell has a base with feet.
 14. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell has a drainage hole.
 15. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell comprises a box shape.
 16. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell comprises a cylinder shape.
 17. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 wherein said shell has a protruding floor rim to receive a tank rim of said fuel storage tank.
 18. The fuel storage tank assembly of claim 10 including at least one wheel mounted to said shell to slideably receive said fuel storage tank.
 19. The fuel storage tank of claim 10 including a top cover for said shell supporting said fuel storage tank within said shell.
 20. A barbeque accessory rack comprising: a shell at least partially receiving a fuel storage tank; at least one support for holding a barbeque accessory operatively connected to said shell; and a weight scale operatively connected to said shell. 